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In pictures: Queensland’s biggest outdoor sculpture show stuns in its record-breaking 22nd year

Currumbin Beach has turned into a huge outdoor gallery for Swell Sculpture Festival – here are the highlights

Melissa Woodley
Written by
Melissa Woodley
Travel & News Editor, Time Out Australia
Dandelion sculptures
Photograph: Leximagery | 'Dandelion Series' by Al Phemister
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Right now, you can stroll on down to the salty shores of Currumbin Beach for Queensland’s biggest outdoor sculpture show, Swell Sculpture Festival. In 2024, the iconic one-kilometre stretch of sand and waves has transformed into a living canvas for more than 60 striking large-scale works created by a record-breaking 250 local, interstate and international artists. Many of these sculptures – from a giant robot kangaroo and a lifesize seahorse to fungi furniture and a parade of swaying dandelions – confront the environmental threats facing our planet, and make your average sandcastle look like beach crumbs.

The ten-day festival running from September 6-15 is completely free to explore (wahoo!) and comes with a host of bonus activities, including guided twilight sculpture walks, artist talks, masterclasses, comedy shows and live music across the city. But if you can't make it to the Gold Coast for the 22nd edition of Swell Sculpture Festival, don't worry – we’ve rounded up the highlights for you.

Robot kangaroo sculpture
Photograph: Leximagery | 'Roobot' by Michael Brown
Orange triangular sculptures on beach
Photograph: Leximagery | 'Shifa' by Clayton Blake
Mini house sculptures in sand
Photograph: Leximagery | 'Golden Rush' by Kings Christian College
Tin sculpture on beach
Photograph: Leximagery | 'The Hermitage' by Juan Pablo Pinto and Cristian Rojas
Sculpture on beach
Photograph: Leximagery | 'The Golden Calf ' by Alex Seton, 2018
Sculpture on beach
Photograph: Leximagery | 'A Long Way From Home' by Claudia De Salvo and Enzo De Salvo

You can check out all the cool events happening during Swell Sculpture Festival here.

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